94: Chapter 93 Provincial Department Intervenes, Inspection Team Takes the Stage

In her urgency, Liu Ruobing dialed Deputy Director Liu Qiang's private number directly while in the classroom.

It rang twice.

The call connected, and an unfamiliar voice came through, "Director Liu, please review the approval for that investment proposal first; I will report to you in a while."

Deputy Director Liu Qiang's instructions to his subordinate came through the receiver, with slightly noisy background sounds.

Immediately after, Deputy Director Liu Qiang's voice shifted over.

"Daughter, what's wrong?"

This Deputy Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission was usually extremely strict in his management. Taking a call from a family member during office hours was rare enough, let alone interrupting a subordinate's report.

"Dad," Liu Ruobing said, lowering her voice, "Zhu Wenhao has been taken away by people from the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"Is that really true?"

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

"It happened right in the lecture hall. People from the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Brigade had a subpoena, citing the brawl at Red Star Machinery Factory as the reason."

Liu Ruobing glanced at the empty spot on the podium, "Principal Zhou has already gone to contact Minister Xiao. You need to call Uncle Director Qi Shan quickly."

Just then, the sound of a text message notification came from the back row.

Lei Zhenzi took out his phone and lowered his head to look at the screen.

Deputy Director Liu Qiang caught the background noise on the phone.

"Where are you right now?"

"In the classroom." Liu Ruobing looked around; over twenty pairs of eyes, each with their own thoughts, were staring straight at her.

"Don't make a sound, listen to me," Deputy Director Liu Qiang said in a cold, stern tone. "Leave the classroom now, go to the corridor, and use your phone to call Old Secretary Li. Tell him exactly what happened from beginning to end."

"I will go contact your Uncle Director Qi Shan."

"Remember, focus on the important details and don't let personal emotions get involved."

Liu Ruobing acknowledged him, picked up her phone, stood up, and walked toward the back door of the classroom.

After watching Liu Ruobing leave, Lei Zhenzi took out his phone. A message from his father came into view.

"Son. I have already arranged for Lei Dong to run away. Be careful at school, keep your head down, and don't cause any trouble. I am cleaning up your mess right now; if you cause any more trouble for me, I will break your legs."

Lei Zhenzi operated his phone with a few quick taps, and the text message was completely deleted.

He had always been arrogant and domineering, but today, his father had personally stepped in to arrange for Lei Dong to run away. The trouble was not small.

Lei Zhenzi stuffed his phone back into his pocket and leaned honestly against the back of his chair.

In the office of the Deputy Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, Deputy Director Liu Qiang hung up the phone with his daughter. Interesting; the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau had bypassed the Provincial Public Security Department and gone directly to the Provincial Party School to make an arrest. This move was too crude.

He dialed Director Qi Shan's number. "Liu Qiang, you old air force veteran, do you want to go fishing with me again?" Director Qi Shan's rough voice echoed in the receiver.

"Director Qi Shan, the water is too deep this time; I'm afraid you won't be able to catch any fish." Deputy Director Liu Qiang didn't take the bait for the banter. "People from the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau have taken Zhu Wenhao away."

"Is the information reliable?"

"Ruobing just called. Ten minutes ago, they handcuffed him in the Party School lecture hall, citing a brawl at Red Star Machinery Factory."

"Bastards!" Director Qi Shan cursed.

"This Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo! It's one thing for him to use Secretary Lei Zhen's influence to form small cliques in the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, but how dare he reach into the Party School!"

The head of the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo, was a staunch ally of Secretary Lei Zhen of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

"You don't need to worry about this," Director Qi Shan snorted coldly. "I want to see if these people really think they can defy the heavens."

Director Qi Shan slammed the receiver back onto the landline.

Captain Xiao Zhan of the Criminal Investigation General Brigade pushed the door open and entered, holding an interrogation transcript in his hand.

"Director," Captain Xiao Zhan said, handing over the document. "That group led by Zhao San has retracted their statements."

Director Qi Shan didn't take the materials, his eyes cold.

"Speak."

"During the surprise interrogation yesterday, Zhao San admitted to being instigated by Lei Dong to beat Zhu Wenhao," Captain Xiao Zhan stated the facts. "This morning, their stories completely changed. They insist they mistook Zhu Wenhao for a thief stealing equipment, and that as factory security personnel, it was self-defense."

"How do they explain the 200,000 yuan fund transfer?"

"Zhao San said it was a consolation payment from Lei Dong."

"Have you checked the bank statement records?"

"We have. We found a batch of cash of unknown origin at Zhao San's temporary residence," Captain Xiao Zhan added. "But he refuses to disclose the source. We played the on-site recording, but after listening to it, the group collectively remained silent and refused to say a word."

"They won't shed tears until they see the coffin." Director Qi Shan stood up.

"Summon Lei Dong!"

"Cut off his external communication channels first to prevent him from running away!"

"Also, you go to the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau yourself. They have arrested Zhu Wenhao."

Captain Xiao Zhan was stunned.

"They arrested Zhu Wenhao?"

"The excuse is a brawl," Director Qi Shan said with a sneer. "A bunch of thugs wielding steel pipes surrounding and beating an unarmed Party School student. The Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau calls this a brawl; it's the biggest joke in the world."

"I'll go get him right now!" Captain Xiao Zhan turned to leave.

"Wait," Director Qi Shan called him back. "You alone don't have enough weight. Go call Captain Chang of the Provincial Public Security Department's Inspection Team and have him lead a team to go with you."

Captain Xiao Zhan's heart tightened. With the Inspection Team stepping in, this meant they were going to flip the table.

"Two o'clock in the afternoon," Director Qi Shan straightened his police uniform collar. "We will convene a Party Committee meeting. I think the disciplinary issues in the lower-level Municipal Public Security Bureau have reached a point where they must be rectified."

"Yes!" Captain Xiao Zhan accepted the order and exited the office.

Director Qi Shan picked up the internal phone and dialed Office Director Wang Du. "Wang Du, notify all members of the Public Security Department Party Committee that we will hold a Party Committee meeting at two o'clock this afternoon sharp. Everyone who is in town must attend."

"Understood, Director."

Director Qi Shan walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the courtyard. Captain Xiao Zhan and Captain Chang, along with the officers from the Inspection Team, boarded three police cars, turned on their sirens, and sped off in the direction of the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau.

...

At the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, in the interrogation room, Zhu Wenhao sat in the interrogation chair, his hands handcuffed in front of the baffle.

His expression was calm, as if he were an outsider to the situation.

Deputy Captain Liang Tao sat opposite him, holding a pen to take notes.

"Name, workplace."

"Zhu Wenhao. Division Two of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee Organization Department."

"What were you doing at Red Star Machinery Factory at ten o'clock yesterday morning?"

"A field research project arranged by the Provincial Party School."

Deputy Captain Liang Tao put down his pen.

"According to the testimony of the factory security guards, you are suspected of stealing factory equipment. During the process of the security guards stopping you, a physical altercation occurred between both parties."

"Security guards?" Zhu Wenhao's tone was calm. "Red Star Machinery Factory has long since ceased production and was taken over by Shengyuan Holdings. That group of people are social idlers hired by Shengyuan Holdings, not legitimate security guards."

"You are more than welcome to check their labor contracts and social security payment records."

Deputy Captain Liang Tao avoided the main point: "Regardless of their identity, the fact is that a fight occurred."

"The 'Public Security Administration Punishments Law' has a clear definition of mutual fighting," Zhu Wenhao stated. "There were five or six of them, holding weapons, and there was a 200,000 yuan transfer transaction beforehand."

"This is called organized provocation and trouble-making, and it even involves suspected intentional injury."

"Is that how your Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Brigade defines this case?"

Deputy Captain Liang Tao slammed the table violently.

"This is an interrogation room; I ask, you answer. It is not your place to lecture me on the law!"

Zhu Wenhao leaned back against the chair and said no more. More words lead to mistakes.

What the other party wanted was a transcript of mutual fighting. As long as he didn't sign it, the case could not be categorized.

Outside the corridor, the head of the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo, was standing in front of the surveillance monitor. He looked at the young man in the interrogation room who was sitting motionless, his fingers clutching an unlit cigarette.

Secretary Lei Zhen of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission had personally called, demanding that the case be handled as an ordinary public security dispute, punishing both sides equally, and clearing Lei Dong's name.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo knew well that Secretary Zhu Tianhe was the Deputy Secretary of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee, but a county official is no match for the one currently in charge.

The trouble was Director Qi Shan, his direct superior, but Secretary Lei Zhen was his old boss.

Just then, a police officer trotted over. "Bureau Chief Hao, Captain Chang of the Provincial Public Security Department's Inspection Team, and Captain Xiao Zhan of the Criminal Investigation General Brigade are here!"

"They have already arrived at the lobby and specifically asked to see you."

Bureau Chief Hao crushed the cigarette and threw it into the trash can.

"They arrived fast enough."

He straightened his police uniform and went downstairs to greet them.